
New volunteers needed in the West Midlands to RNLI to help save lives at sea
The RNLI is looking for new fundraising volunteers to join its lifesaving crew in Solihull and Birmingham.
Just like the charity’s lifeboats, the RNLI’s fundraising team need a dedicated volunteer crew. Volunteers are the heart of the RNLI and make up 95% of its people. They are ordinary people who do extraordinary things and without them, the organisation couldn’t continue to save lives at sea.
But it’s not all about volunteering on lifeboats or at a station, there are many other ways people can give a little or a lot of their time to support the RNLI and make their own lifesaving difference.
Jan Sharp, Solihull branch RNLI treasurer has been a volunteer for over 30 years, initially helping at street and store collections before joining the branch in 2004. She says:
‘I have grown to love and admire this outstanding charity over many years. This started with visits to lifeboat stations while on holiday, resulting in joining the RNLI as a Shoreline member and then my son becoming a member of the junior supporter club Storm Force.
‘It is a privilege to be part of the RNLI family helping to raise funds. I enjoy counting and banking the money from a collection knowing it is helping the charity. There are some very generous people donating to the RNLI and it’s great to see the total after a collection. I enjoy interacting with the public about the charity, especially hearing tales of their experiences with the lifeboat service. I have made new friends through my involvement with the RNLI.’
Craig Stevenson, has been branch secretary of the Birmingham branch for eight months. He says:
‘Volunteering has given me the opportunity to give something back to a worthwhile charity. I absolutely love to visit lifeboat stations, meeting the crew and making people inland aware of the role of the RNLI.’
Despite being landlocked, people living inland have traditionally given generously to the RNLI – realising the charity’s volunteer crews will be ready to assist should they visit the coast.
Nick Evans RNLI Fundraising Partnership Lead said:
‘Without our volunteers, the RNLI simply would not be able to operate the way it does today. With 92% of the RNLI’s income coming from donations, the charity relies on the generosity of supporters and on the dedication of our fundraising volunteers to help raise essential funds. Thousands of community fundraising volunteers organise a wide range of activities and events each year, contributing their time, energy and skills to raise money to save lives at sea. Some of our fundraisers have been volunteering for many years while some just join us for a few months in the year depending on what their commitments allow.
‘We now really need to bolster that support and grow our volunteer fundraising crew. If you like to have fun, enjoy meeting new people and want to join a motivated and enthusiastic team, we encourage you to find out more and apply. You will learn new skills, gain experience and have the rewarding satisfaction of giving back. The RNLI will also provide all the necessary training and support so you can carry out your chosen role effectively.’
To find out more about how you can sign up to be a fundraising volunteer at the RNLI, or to apply, click on this link rnli.org/OneCrewVolunteers
Ends
Please find attached an image of Craig Stevenson, has been branch secretary of the Birmingham branch for eight months
RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact Danielle Rush, RNLI Media Relations Manager for Wales, the West and the Isle of Man on 07786 668829 or [email protected].
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.